Land forces and warfare Books

Book SynopsisThis is the moving biography of a wartime Bomb Disposal officer who was blinded in an explosion in September 1943.

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Book SynopsisExplores the experience of the British cavalry from Mons to Ypres.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewKershaw’s book is a welcome rebalancing; a thoughtful, well-researched and well-written contribution to a narrative that has long been too one-sided and too mired in national mythology. -- Roger Moorhouse * The Times *A myth busting history of Dunkirk -- Richard Overy * The Telegraph *This is military history of the highest order. Superbly written and drawn from richly original sources, Dünkirchen 1940 throws new light on what the British tend to regard as an heroic humiliation but for the Germans was a victorious sideshow. An abundance of vivid personal memories, woven deftly in a clear narrative, make for a truly gripping read. * Jonathan Dimbleby, author and broadcaster *Robert Kershaw’s accurate and gritty account provides a fresh coherency to the German action in Belgium and France in the spring of 1940. His methodical approach dispels many of the myths surrounding Dunkirk. * David Price, bestselling author of 'The Crew' *Impeccably researched, a unique and enthralling approach – Dunkirk solely from the victors’ perspective. * Anthony Tucker-Jones, author of 'Churchill, Master and Commander' *Robert Kershaw has produced another superb book that demands a reassessment of the fighting at Dunkirk. In this highly readable and insightful account, Kershaw provides a much needed corrective to some of the assumptions made about the German forces using a new and underutilised sources. The result is blend of absorbing narrative history and clinical analysis, that deserves take its place among the great works about this totemic battle. * Lloyd Clark, author of 'Blitzkrieg: Myth, Reality and Hitler’s Lightning War' *An impressive account – Kershaw uses a mass of eye-witness testimony to fashion a compelling narrative. In doing so, he offers an important reassessment of this pivotal moment in World War Two. * Michael Jones, author of 'After Hitler: The Last Days of the Second World War' *Robert Kershaw makes all the complexities of 1940 easy to comprehend. This is a first-class book by a master of his trade. He comfortably combines British, French and German voices in an epic story which traverses the tactical to the grand strategic. In each area, a new and refreshing telling of one of the most decisive years in British history, he demonstrates that he is master of all. * Robert Lyman, author of 'A War of Empires' *Kershaw tells an excellent story from a hitherto neglected viewpoint. * History of War *Table of ContentsPrologue: Dunkerque, France List of Illustrations List of Maps Chapter 1: Führer Weather Chapter 2: Landser Chapter 3: The Sea Chapter 4: 24 May, The Day of the Halt Order Chapter 5: Panzers Against Ports Chapter 6: Running the Gauntlet Chapter 7: Sea, Air and Land Chapter 8: The Great Escape, 1 June Chapter 9: Elusive Victory Postscript: Dünkirchen Notes Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis''[An] excellent account.'' - Richard Overy, The TelegraphShortlisted for the Military History Matters Book of the Year Award 2024A ground-breaking history of one of the greatest ever sieges. Masterfully brought to life by a leading expert using original Russian and German source material. This new history of the first two years of this crucial battle for the heart and soul of Russia is the first in over a decade and also the first to look comprehensively at the wider military strategies of both sides. At a huge cost, the Red Army and the civilian population of Leningrad ultimately endured a bitter 900-day siege, struggling against constant bombing, shelling, and starvation. Throughout the siege, Soviet forces tried to break the German lines and restore contact with the garrison. To Besiege a City charts the first of these offensives which began in January 1942 and was followed by repeated assaults. AcclaimedTrade Review[An] excellent account. -- Richard Overy * The Telegraph *This is another masterly account by this excellent Osprey author, covering the first year of the siege of Leningrad. * Miniature Wargames *Buttar's meticulous and even-handed research leaves no stone unturned. * History of War *Brings to life a dark chapter of World War II history that ought to never be forgotten. * Morning Star *This will surely become the definitive reference work on the Siege of Leningrad. * Classic Military Vehicle *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Dramatis Personae Introduction Chapter 1: The Window to the West Chapter 2: Stalin's Purges Chapter 3: Flawed Plans for War Chapter 4: Barbarossa Unleashed Chapter 5: The Approach to Leningrad Chapter 6: Sinyavino and Tikhvin Chapter 7: Starvation: The First Winter Chapter 8: Bandenkrieg: The Partisan War Chapter 9: Lyuban: The Price of Optimism Chapter 10: Lyuban: Attrition and Failure Chapter 11: Summer 1942 Chapter 12: A Bloodstained Autumn Chapter 13: Towards the Second Winter Chapter 14: A Bitter Stalemate Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisComprehensive account in words and images of all US Wheeled AFVs of the last 80 years.

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Book SynopsisMany rare images of all Allied Armoured Fighting Vehicle variants of WW2 across all theatres.

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Book SynopsisSuperb collection of colour and B&W images of all Axis tanks variants of WW2 across all theatres

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Book SynopsisA short, but well-researched overview of the main developments of tanks used by the USSR from 1917-1945

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Book SynopsisThrough hundreds of color photos, the bulk previously unpublished, Images of War: M2 Bradley explores America's premier Infantry Fighting Vehicle in an unprecedented level of detail. Go inside and out the modern-day icon, then ride it into battle through they myriad of photos presented in this book. See why Bradley remains one of the most formidable armored combat vehicles of its class, even as it logs over 35 years of service.

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Book SynopsisThe M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage, dubbed the Priest, was the most successful and widely used example of American self-propelled artillery during WWII. Examples continued to be used by the U.S. Army during the Korean war, and beyond, even serving Allied countries into the 1970s.

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Book SynopsisHitler's Wehrmacht led the way in armoured warfare as the successful blitzkriegs in Poland and North West Europe in 1940 so convincingly proved. The contribution of light tanks such as Panzers I, II and 35(t) was critical. As the war spread to the Balkans, north Africa and the invasion of Russia, German engineers worked tirelessly modifying existing light tanks and developing new models. The growing Soviet armoured threat, in particular, spawned tank destroyers such as the Marder III Panzerjager, SdKfz 138/1 and 139. Anti-aircraft variants included the Flakpanzer 38(t) and the SdKfz 140/1 was a reconnaissance tank armed with a 20mm turret-mounted gun, developed from the SdKfz 22 armoured car, whereas the Aufklarungerspanzer 38(t) carried a 7.5cm gun in the support reconnaissance role. In the final stages of the war light tanks were phased out and the Marder and 38 (t) were up-gunned; the Wespe was adapted from the Panzer II chassis. This superbly illustrated book gives a comprehensive overview of the multitude of vehicles and variants that came into service. With the text and captions providing technical data, the images show this formidable array of fighting vehicles in action across the theatres of war.

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Book SynopsisTiger tanks were among the most-feared fighting vehicles of the Second World War and they gained almost legendary status, yet they never fulfilled their potential because they were not produced in sufficient numbers and the tide the war had turned against the German army by the time they were introduced. Often they were deployed in difficult circumstances and in defensive battles, struggling against the odds. Nowhere was this more true than in western Europe during the Allied advance across France and into Germany, and it is the Tigers of this phase of the war that Dennis Oliver portrays in his third volume on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Allied armour and air attacks during the last days of the conflict. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

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Book SynopsisIn the thirty years after the Second World War, the British army entered a period of intense technological development. Due to the lack of surviving documentation, this period is almost a second Dark Age. What survives shows the British Army's struggle to use cutting edge technology to create weapons that could crush the Soviet Union's armed forces, all the while fighting against the demands of Her Majesty's Treasury. On this journey, the Army entertained ideas such as micro-tanks of about 20 tons in weight with two-man crews, massive 183mm anti-tank guns, devastating rocket artillery, colossal anti-tank guided missiles and ended up on the cusp of building hover tanks. This book takes a look at the records from a time period of increasing importance to the tank historian and starts the process of illuminating the dark age of British tanks.

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Book SynopsisThe Tiger I tank, probably the most famous German armoured vehicle of the Second World War, might have been a war-winning, break-through weapon if it had been produced in sufficient numbers and if it had been introduced earlier on the Eastern Front, before the balance of strength had tipped towards the Soviet Union. At the Battle of Kursk there were not enough Tigers to make a decisive difference and thereafter the Tiger was forced to play a mainly defensive role as the Wehrmacht struggled to withstand the advances of the Red Army. And it is this period in the Tiger tank's short history that Dennis Oliver concentrates on in this, his third book on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. He uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German army's heavy panzer battalions. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Tigers of 1943.

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Book SynopsisStalin's purge of army officers in the late 1930s and disputes about tank tactics meant that Soviet armoured forces were in disarray when Hitler invaded in 1941\. As a result, during Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht's 3,200 panzers ran circles round the Red Army's tank force of almost 20,000 - thousands of Soviet tanks were disabled or destroyed. Yet within two years of this disaster the Red Army's tank arm had regained its confidence and numbers and was in a position to help turn the tide and liberate the Soviet Union. This is the remarkable story Anthony Tucker-Jones relates in this concise, highly illustrated history of the part played by Soviet armour in the war on the Eastern Front. Chapters cover each phase of the conflict, from Barbarossa, through the battles at Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk to the massive, tank-led offensives that drove the Wehrmacht back to Berlin. Technical and design developments are covered, but so are changes in tactics and the role of the tanks in the integrated all-arms force that crushed German opposition.

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Book SynopsisThe fighting in Europe during the Seven Years War hung in the balance. After initial successes the Austro-French forces had been driven back across the Rhine. With the opposing sides reinforcing their armies, the campaign of 1759 was going to prove decisive. Britain and her German allies met the French at Minden in Germany. Due to a misunderstanding of orders the British infantry actually attacked and dispersed the French cavalry. That action is still commemorated on 1 August each year with the wearing of roses by the infantry and artillery regiments whose predecessors picked flowers and put them in their coats as they passed through German gardens on the way to the battle. By contrast Lord Sackville, who commanded the British cavalry, was accused of ignoring orders to charge the retreating French which could have turned defeat into rout. He was court-martialled and cashiered. The victory at Minden was just one in a number of British successes that year around the world against French forces and overseas territories. This led to 1759 being described as the Annus Mirabilis - the year of miracles.

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Book SynopsisAlthough it is known that Allied airborne forces landed into a German buzzsaw on D-Day, far less is known about the troops they encountered in the dark night of June 6, 1944. One of the formations they encountered was a similarly elite group of paratroopers, who fought on the defensive instead of dropping from the skies, giving their Allied counterparts a tremendous challenge in achieving their objectives.This is the first complete wartime history of the 6th Fallschirmjäger, with numerous firsthand accounts from key members describing the events of 1943–45 vividly and without compromise for the first time. These accounts reveal previously unknown details about important operations in Italy, Russia, on the Normandy Front, Belgium, Holland, the last German Parachute drop in the Ardennes, and the final battle to the end in Germany.With over 220 original photographs, many from private collections and never before published, this book fully illustrates the men, their uniforms, equipment and weapons. Also included is an appendix with maps, battle calendar, staffing plans, a list of field and post-MOB-numbers, and the Knight's Cross recipients of the regiment. Having earned the respect of the Allied forces who fought against them during World War II, this work will inform current readers of the full record of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6, and why the Allied advance into German-held Europe was so painstaking to achieve.Trade ReviewI found this an interesting insight into the combat history of this group of elite troops who earned much respect from their enemies as well for their actions. * www.militarymodelling.com *This is a good insight into the later Fallschirmjager - not as well trained as the original formations but with a fighting spirit that made up for their critical logistic shortcomings. The book is chock full of little titbits, such as squad and platoon composition and the fact that ‘drop’ training was only abandoned in early 1944. * Wargames Soldiers and Strategy *…wonderfully documented book…Within each chapter are numerous detailed and insightful personal accounts of combat, troop movements and war experiences… provides an excellent account of what it was like fighting in WWII from the German soldier’s perspective. It was an enjoyable and informative read. The many photographs complimented the text nicely, but were also interesting to view as a photo album. * IPMS *

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Book SynopsisA frank account of the U.S. infantry experience in northern Europe, A Footsoldier for Patton takes the reader from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France, to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself.Patton’s army is best known for dashing armoured attacks, its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm the greatest fighting was done by Patton’s long undersung infantry; the foot sloggers who were called upon to reduce enemy strongpoints, and who took the brunt of German counterattacks.Michael Bilder, a member of the 5th Infantry, played a unique role in the Third Army’s onslaught. A rifleman foremost, he was also a German-speaker, called upon for interrogations and special duties. An astute observer, he relates dozens of fascinating insights into the campaign, from dealing with German snipers to intoxicated Frenchwomen, as well as relaying the often morbid humour of combat. Laughter, for example, erupts among Bilder’s unit when a hated Graves Registration officer, known for robbing the pockets of the dead, gets his hand blown off by a German booby trap.When the 5th Infantry comes up against the fortress of Metz, the battle is detailed in all its horror, as is the sudden drive into the flank of the Bulge, where the Americans face their first winter battle against enemy veterans of Russia. Incidents common to the ordinary GI, but which seldom see the light of day in histories, are routinely related in this book, enriching the reader’s sense of the true reality of World War II combat.Trade ReviewAltogether, this is a fascinating insight into a rifleman’s everyday life during the later stages of the War in Europe. * Classic Military Vehicle *One of the best memoirs I have ever read about WWII service. * Military Magazine *...a fine book that I would recommend to anyone who has anything to do with the infantryman’s war. It should be compulsory reading for snout-in-trough politicians who thoughtlessly commit better men than themselves to that very experience. * Tank *...a damn good read...a roller coaster of a story filled with the highs and lows of war. * Raider *

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Book SynopsisToday tanks are synonymous with the modern army; imposing, essential pieces of high-technology equipment, seemingly impregnable. But how did the tank come into being, and how did it develop and influence conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries? Why do different countries use tanks so differently in combat and what was the biggest tank-on-tank battle? The Casemate Short History of Tanks addresses all these questions and more in an informative and entertaining introduction to this iconic weapon of the last hundred years.Tanks first ventured into battle on the Somme in 1916, and by the end of the war countries were beginning to choose “heavy” or “light” tank designs to suit their preferred doctrine. Design stagnated between the wars, until World War II brought about rapid change. Tanks would prove integral to fighting in almost every theatre; the Germans swept across Europe using tanks to spearhead their blitzkrieg method of war, until Soviet tanks proved more than their match and led to some epic tank battles on a huge scale.After World War II, tank designs became increasingly sophisticated, and armor undertook a variety of roles in conflicts, with mixed results. American armor in Korea was soon forced into an infantry support role, which it reprised in Vietnam, while Soviet armor was defeated in guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan. However, tanks played a pivotal role in the American “shock and awe” doctrine in two wars in Iraq, and tanks remain a crucial weapons system on the battlefield.Trade ReviewThis is a book for students and they will enjoy it as a slice of military history, which could open a whole new interest and understanding for them. * Gun Mart *Tanks is part of Casemate's brilliant new series: Short Histories. * Books Monthly *These books would be excellent for someone with an early interest in military history or for someone talking history at school. Very readable and easy to understand with some good illustrations. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisIn the early summer of 1941 German mountain soldiers under the command of General Eduard Dietl set out in northern Norway up through Finland to the Russian border. Operation Silberfuchs was underway. The northernmost section of the Eastern Front would ensure Hitler supplies of nickel from Finnish mines, and bring the strategically important port city of Murmansk under German control. The roadless rocky terrain and extremes of weather created major challenges for the German troop movements. Despite this Dietl's men made quick gains on his Russian foe, and they came closer to Murmansk. Despite repeated warnings of a German attack, Stalin had failed to mobilize, and the British hesitated to come to the rescue of the Red Army. But while the weather conditions steadily worsened, the Russians' resistance increased. Three bloody efforts to force the river Litza were repulsed and the offensive would develop into a nightmare for the inadequately equipped German soldiers. In an exciting and authoritative narrative based on previously unpublished material, Alf Reidar Jacobsen describes the heavy fighting that would lead to Hitler's first defeat on the Eastern Front. With firsthand accounts of the fighting on the front line, this is a dramatic new account of a forgotten but bloody episode of World War II.Trade ReviewListed in Military History Monthly's round up of the best military history titles for March 2018. * Military History Matters (Reviewer) *Excellent. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *The author does a good job of weaving the various parts of the thread together; German feuding, Britain’s concern that the Russians might collapse and the Soviet Union’s vulnerability to Stalin’s delusions. * Army Rumour Service *Authors Jacobsen and Stewart provide thrilling and detailed information about Hitler's first defeat on the eastern Front, and the entire book reads like the premise for a new blockbuster film. An amazing tale, mde all the more enthralling by the fact it remained untold for more than three quarters of a century. * Books Monthly *

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Book SynopsisOriginally warriors mounted on horseback, knights became associated with the concept of chivalry as it was popularised in medieval European literature. Knights were expected to fight bravely and honourably and be loyal to their lord until death if necessary. Later chivalry came to encompass activities such as tournaments and hunting, and virtues including justice, charity and faith. The Crusades were instrumental in the development of the code of chivalry, and some crusading orders of knighthood, such as the Knights Templar, have become legend.Boys would begin their knightly training at the age of seven, learning to hunt and studying academic studies before becoming assistants to older knights, training in combat and learning how to care for a knight’s essentials: arms, armour, and horses. After fourteen years of training, and when considered master of all the skills of knighthood, a squire was eligible to be knighted.In peacetime knights would take part in tournaments. Tournaments were a major spectator sport, but also an important way for knights to practice their skills – knights were often injured and sometimes killed in melees.Knights figured large in medieval warfare and literature. In the 15th century knights became obsolete due to advances in warfare, but the title of ‘knight’ has survived as an honorary title granted for services to a monarch or country, and knights remain a strong concept in popular culture.This short history will cover the rise and decline of the medieval knights, including the extensive training, specific arms and armour, tournaments and the important concept of chivalry.Trade ReviewI imagine that schools will find these to be useful background primers for a period of history study. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *It’s a really informative book which won’t wear out its welcome. It whets the appetite to learn more, which is really the greatest compliment I can give it. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisIn the summer of 1967, the Marines in I Corps, South Vietnam’s northernmost military region, were doing everything they could to lighten the pressure on the besieged Con Thien Combat Base.Still fresh after months of relatively light action around Khe Sanh, the 3d Battalion, 26th Marines, was sent to the Con Thien region to secure the combat bases’ endangered main supply route. On 7 September 1967, its first full day in the new area of operations, separate elements of the battalion were attacked by at least two battalions of North Vietnamese infantry, and both were nearly overrun in night-long battles.On 10 September, while advancing to a new sector near Con Thien, the 3d Battalion, 26th Marines, was attacked by at least a full North Vietnamese regiment, the same NVA unit that had attacked it two days earlier. Divided into two separate defensive perimeters, the Marines battled through the afternoon and evening against repeated assaults by waves of NVA regulars intent upon achieving a major victory. In a battle described as 'Custer’s Last Stand—With Air Support', the Americans prevailed by the narrowest of margins.Ambush Valley is an unforgettable account of bravery and survival under impossible conditions. It is told entirely in the words of the men who faced the ordeal together – an unprecedented mosaic of action and emotion woven into an incredibly clear and vivid combat narrative by one of today’s most effective military historians. Ambush Valley achieves a new standard for oral history. It is a war story not to be missed.

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Book SynopsisAt the launch of Operation Barbarossa, Army Group North was tasked with the operational objective of Leningrad—what lay between it and the city was 800 kilometers of the Baltic states, and 18-20 infantry divisions, two cavalry divisions, and eight or nine mechanised brigades of the Red Army. It was apparent that in order to succeed they would have to race through to the western Dvina and establish a bridgehead before the Russians exploited this natural feature to organise a defensive front. Panzer Group 4, which included LVI Panzer Corps and XLI Panzer Corps, was to lead the way. By the end of the first day the group had pushed 70 kilometers into enemy territory. Red counterattacks on their unprotected flanks slowed them down, resulting in the tank battle of Raseiniai, but the group managed to capture Dünaburg on the Western Dvina on June 26, with a bridgehead established shortly thereafter. The group then pushed northeast through Latvia to the Stalin Line. In mid-July Hoepner was preparing to push the last 100 kilometers to Leningrad, however Leeb, commander of the army group, had other plans for the group and the advance did not continue for several more weeks.This account of Panzer Group 4's advance was written by Walter Chales de Beaulieu, chief of staff of Panzer Group 4. Published in German in 1961, this is the first English translation. Beaulieu not only gives a detailed account of the Panzer Group's advance, but also offers an assessment of the fighting, an examination of how Panzer Group 4's operations were affected by the limitations imposed on Army Group North, and the lessons that can be learnt from its experiences in the Baltic States. He concludes with a discussion of whether Leningrad could ever have been taken.Table of Contents1. Preparations and deployment; 2. Rush to the Western Dvina 3. Through Latvia to the Stalin Line 4. The thrust towards the operational objective: Leningrad 5. The Panzer Group is Brought to a Halt 6. Renewal of the advance on Leningrad 7. The Offensive in the lead-up to the Encirclement of Leningrad 8. The effects of the operational measures of the OKW and OKH on the conduct of battle of Army Group North 9. Could Leningrad have been taken? Appendices

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Book SynopsisIn this fully revised edition of Finding Your Father's War, military historian Jonathan Gawne has written an easily accessible handbook for anyone seeking greater knowledge of their relatives' experience in World War II, or indeed anyone seeking a better understanding of the U.S. Army during World War II. With over 470 photographs, charts, and an engaging narrative with many rare insights into wartime service, this book is an invaluable tool for understanding our "citizen soldiers," who once rose as a generation to fight the greatest war in American history.Trade ReviewJonathan's Gawne's book is a 5-star blueprint, well-written and beautifully illustrated, to deciphering a loved one's WW2 US Army service. * The Commander's Voice *

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Book SynopsisThe successes of the German Blitzkrieg in 1939–41 were as surprising as they were swift. Allied decision-makers wanted to discover the secret to German success quickly, even though only partial, incomplete information was available to them. The false conclusions drawn became myths about the Blitzkrieg that have lingered for decades.It has been argued that German victories in the early part of the war rested less upon newly developed tanks and aircraft and more on German military traditions: rather than creating a new way of war based on new technology, the Germans fitted the new weapons into their existing ideas on warfare. These doctrines focused on independent action, initiative, flexibility, decentralized decision-making and mobility. The conduct of German soldiers, particularly the lower-ranking men, on the battlefield was at the core of the concept and German victories rested upon the quality of the small combat units.This book focuses on the experience of the enlisted men and junior officers in the Blitzkrieg operations in Poland, Norway, Western Europe and Russia. Using accounts previously unpublished in English, military historian Niklas Zetterling explores how they operated, for example how a company commander led his tanks, how a crew worked together inside a tank, and the role of the repair services. The author fits these narratives into a broader perspective to give the reader a better understanding of why the Germans were so successful in 1939–41.

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Book SynopsisIn late 1943, 362. Infanterie-Division was formed around the remnants of 268. Infanterie-Division, which had been disbanded after high casualties on the Eastern Front. It fought at Anzio in early 1944, overrun when the Allied broke through the German lines in April. During its time at Anzio, the division was involved in the Benedicta massacre.The unit was withdrawn to Rome. Facing the Allied advance, it suffered further losses and had to be rebuilt once more. Returning to the front, it then fought until late April 1945, when it surrendered.This account focuses on the efforts of 362. Infanterie-Division to turn back the Allied forces from their advance north in late 1944 and early 1945. Its commander, Heinz Greiner led the division in a series of counterattacks against Allied forces outside Rome that slowed Allied progress.While Greiner did not have access to the unit war diary while writing this account his experience as commander of 362. Infanterie-Division thoughout this period means that it offers a unique insight into the battle from the German perspective well as a thorough account of the reestablishment, training and combat performance of a German division.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Battle for Rome – Reestablishment and training of 362nd Infantry Division; The last general attack against the beachhead at Anzio-Nettuno; The Allied breakout from the beachhead; Delaying operations Battle in the Appennines Battle on the Po – Refitting the 362nd Infantry Division; Delaying operations between November 44 and surrender in May 45 Afterword Appendices

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Book SynopsisSoldiers to the Last Day: Rhineland- Westphalian 6th Infantry Division, 1935-1945 recounts the history of the German 6th Infantry Division from its formation in 1935 to its destruction at Babruysk in July 1944; then its resurrection and continued fighting until the end of the war. Among the first divisions established by the Wehrmacht, the 6th Infantry Division had one of the longest and bloodiest records of continuous combat of any division—Allied or Axis. Engaging in combat within weeks of the outbreak of WWII, the division fought to the last hour of the war. Based primarily on German sources, in particular the rare divisional and regimental histories and war diaries, and on personal accounts and letters of its soldiers, Soldiers to the Last Day presents the German view of the war from inside divisional headquarters and down to the individual Landser as the division marches across France in 1940, advances to the Volga during Operation Barbarossa, fights the brutal battles of Rzhev, Kursk, Babruysk; and makes last desperate attempts to defend the homeland in 1945. It is a tale of courage, determination, suffering, and in the end—betrayal.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; Author’s Note; Introduction; 1 From the Ashes; 2 Mobilization and War: First Blood; 3 “Kameraden Wir Marschieren im Westen”; 4 Barbarossa I: Into the Unknown; 5 Barbarossa II: The Volga and Beyond; 6 A Winter in Hell; 7 The First Winter Battle of Rzhev; 8 The Summer Battle of Rzhev; 9 “Wir Halten Rshew!” The Second Winter Battle of Rzhev; 10 Operation Büffel; 11 Operation Freischütz; 12 Zitadelle; 13 The Year of Retreat; 14 Death of a Division; 15 Resurrection and the Warka; 16 Silesian Requiem; Epilogue; Endnotes; Appendix I: Men of the Division; Appendix II: Das Ritterkreuz; Appendix III: Das Birkenkreuz; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisMilitary historians have often regarded the roll of the Italian military as somewhat "bi-polar." During the First World War, Italy sided with the Allies including Britain, France, Russia and the U.S. against Germany and the Central Powers. During the Second World War it signed on as a member of the Tri-Partite powers joining Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The legacy of the latter often presents a less than positive appraisal of the Italian soldier's performance... one espoused both by its enemies and allies. However a positive consensus appears when focusing on the Bersaglieri... translating as "sharp shooter"... and acting as shock troops often leading both assaults and defences. As "The Tip of the Spear" they would thus pay the price during the Italian Wars of Unification, the early colonial forays into Africa, WWI, the Ethiopian War and lastly WWII with much Bersaglieri blood soaked up by European soil as well as the burning sands of Africa and frozen in the vastness of Russia. Over 300 images including rare unpublished photographs chronicle Italy's elite "Plumed Warriors."

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Book Synopsis‘Panzersoldaten!’ is a history of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (MVSN), commonly referred to as the Blackshirts due to their wartime attire. They were an anti-Communist paramilitary organisation that fought for Mussolini while Italy was under fascist rule; following the Duce’s removal from power, the organisation was quickly swept up by the Italian Army, and forced to swear allegiance to the king. Some, however, defected and continued to fight for the Axis alliance as volunteer units in the German Army. This volume covers the history of the Blackshirt Division during the campaign on the Eastern Front, focusing on its relations with the Italian Army, the history of the MVSN, its advance into Ukraine, and the First and Second Battles of the Don River. Morisi, using almost exclusively contemporary resources and battalion war diaries, as well memoirs from senior officers of the division, has created a definitive analysis of the Blackshirts.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Introduction; 1: The Italian Army and Operation Barbarossa; 2: A History of the MVSN; 3: From the Initial Advance into Ukraine to the Christmas Battle; 4: First and Second Battle of the Don River; 5: The M Armoured Division; Conclusion: final assessment; Bibliography; Appendix: Anthem of the M Battalions.

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Book SynopsisWhen Monty was given Allied command of the D Day landings he wasted no time gathering around him individuals and formations he could trust. Foremost among the latter were two armoured brigades: 4th (Black Desert Rats) and 8th (Red Fox's Mask). Both these brigades had unrivalled fighting records whether in North Africa, Sicily or Italy. They had proved themselves in bitter fighting against Rommel's Afrika Korps and the Italians. Once ashore in Normandy the two superb brigades went on to enhance their reputations on the journey to the heartland of Hitler's Third Reich and final victory. The author has written a fast moving and enthralling account of war at the sharp end.

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Book SynopsisGalloglass, from the Gaelic galloglaigh for 'foreign warriors', were mercenaries from the Western Isles of Scotland who fought in the retinues of Irish magnates from the mid-13th century until the early 17th century. This work looks at the clan and family structures of the galloglass, their performance in battle, their weapons and armor and how these were made and by whom. The unique fighting skills and tactics of the galloglass are also studied, as well as how they were organized on the battlefield and their command structures and systems of rank.Trade Review'Cannan's text includes an enormous amount of fascinating detail ... The text is enriched by a wealth of photographs, maps and other graphics, including a series of very fine, full-page, colour reconstruction graphics by Sean O' Brogain. ... Everyone reading this book will gain much in the way of information and a vivid puicture of the lives and impact of Galloglass. Andy Halpin, Ulster Journal of ArchaeologyTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Chronology/ Recruitment/ Training and Selection/ Appearance/ Conditions of Service/ On Campaign/ The Galloglass Experience/ Ethos and Motivation/ Select Bibliography/ Places to Visit/ Glossary/ Index

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Book SynopsisLittle has been published on US armored infantry units and tactics over the years. However, their contribution to the war effort was hugely important. There were a total of 57 armored infantry battalions and two regiments that served throughout the war and in all theaters. Equipped with halftracks, they fought as part of combined arms teams and combat commands alongside tanks, tank destroyers and artillery battalions. Significantly, they were not simply standard infantry battalions provided with halftracks. Their company and platoon organization was very different from the standard infantry unit and these highly mobile, heavily armed battalions fought in an entirely different manner. Using period training manuals and combat reports this book provides an exclusive look at the unique tactics developed by US armored infantry units including movement formations and battle drills.Table of ContentsIntrodution /Armored Infantry Organization /Armored Infantry Weapons and Equipment /Tank-Infantry Coordination /Armored Infantry Tactics /Units in Action /Assessment / Conclusion /Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis book tells of the courageous story of men who believed in their heritage, and who, through their heroic teamwork and dedication, stopped the main effort of the German Sixth Army. American veterans who participated in this battle remember the events, even after sixty years, as only yesterday. They also remember their compatriots and friends who died in this battle. The book covers what is essentially a five-day critical battle for the North shoulder of the 'Bulge' at Rochearth-Krinkelt. The Bulge was fought was fought in many areas, but it was won for the First Army on this shoulder.The author, has probed into every possible source for factual information. He has studied official after-action reports, histories and unit reports of organisations involved in the battle. In addition, he has conducted an extensive program of individual contacts, not only with the US Army participants, local villages and resistance fighters, but also with German commanders at various levels in the 3 divisions involved. Such an ample and widespread research effort has enabled the author to separate fact from fiction.Trade ReviewHis knowledge is obviously quite comprehensive and his access to first hand accounts and archive material offers o some really stunning photographs. This book will have huge appeal to those with a strong interest in US operations in north-west Europe and to a general reader who appreciates strong personal accounts. - War History Online

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Book SynopsisWith the development in the 13th century of co-operative tactics using crossbowmen and heavy spearmen, circumstance began to arise in which the charge by Muslim horse-archers, and then by European armoured knights, could be defied. Infantry were far cheaper and easier to train than knights, and potentially there were far more of them. Tactics emerged by which more numerous and more varied infantry played an increasing part in battles. This book traces these and other examples of this 'jerky' and uneven process through its regional differences, which were invariably entwined with parallel cavalry developments – the balanced army of 'mixed arms' was always the key to success. By the time serious hand-held firearms appeared on battlefields in large numbers in about 1500, the face of medieval warfare had been transformed.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Background – the experience gained from defeats at the hands of the 13th-century Mongol invasions, and of Muslim armies in the Middle East /Development of infantry weapons and tactics as result of meeting these basically light cavalry enemies. (e.g. Tagliacozzo, 1268; Falkirk, 1298; Courtrai, 1302) /The decline of lance and the rise of close-quarter cavalry weapons – confusion of tactics (e.g. Najera, 1367; Aljubarotte, 1385; Castagnaro, 1387) /Crossbow and longbow – reasons for divergence between mainland European and English armies – how each type worked alongside cavalry and dismounted men-at-arms (e.g. Crecy, 1346; Agincourt, 1415) /‘Blip’ in rise of infantry dominance as heavier cavalry armour becomes arrow-proof (e.g. San Romano, 1432) /Decline of archery in favour of combined-arms infantry armies – bows subsidiary to massed pikes and halberds (e.g. Grandson, 1476) /Increasing importance of field artillery (e.g. Castillon, 1453) and hand-held firearms (e.g. Cerignola, 1503) /Plate commentary /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisThe Merkava, or Chariot, was the first tank entirely designed and built by the Israeli Army. The IDF had previously been using a variety of vehicles, acquired from various sources, including in particular the Sherman and Centurion. The Merkava was designed specifically for the type of warfare and opponents that Israel faced. The resulting tank was heavily armoured and packed a powerful 105mm main gun backed up with a digital fire control system and laser range-finder. This title examines the development and deployment of the Merkava, investigating the changing technical aspects of the various marks, creating a useful and comprehensive study of Israel's most formidable tank.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Background · The Chariot Programme · The Blue and White Merkava · Baptism of Fire in the Lebanon · The Mk II and III's · Mk IV and Beyond

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Book SynopsisFirst published to accompany the exhibition at Piano Nobile, John Armstrong: Paintings 1938-1958; An Enchanted Distance is a fully illustrated catalogue re-establishing John Armstrong A.R.A. as a pre-eminent Surrealist. Propelled to the forefront of British Modernism as a member of Unit One, Armstrong later rejected the confinement of artistic groups yet was at the heart of inter-war and post-war British art. Consistently producing prophetic, dreamlike paintings of emotional and political insight, Armstrong’s works speak of the universal through his own individual language. The most significant exhibition of Armstrong's works in over thirty years, the catalogue focuses on two decades of immense productivity, creativity and innovation.

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Book SynopsisA rarely frank account of the U.S. infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the reader from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France, to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself.Patton’s army is best known for dashing armoured attacks, its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm the greatest fighting was done by Patton’s long undersung infantry—the foot sloggers who were called upon to reduce enemy strongpoints, and who took the brunt of German counterattacks.Michael Bilder, a member of the 5th Infantry (“Red Diamond”division), played a unique role in the Third Army’s onslaught. A rifleman foremost, he was also a German-speaker, called upon for interrogations and special duties. Also a combat lifeguard, he played a key role in successive river crossings. An astute observer, he relates dozens of fascinating insights into the campaign, from dealing with German snipers to intoxicated Frenchwomen, as well as relaying the often morbid humor of combat. Laughter, for example, erupts among Bilder’s unit when a hated Graves Registration officer, known for robbing the pockets of the dead, gets his hand blown off by a German booby trap.When the 5th Infantry comes up against the fortress of Metz, the battle is detailed in all its horror, as is the sudden drive into the flank of the Bulge, where the Americans face their first winter battle against enemy veterans of Russia. Incidents common to the ordinary GI, but which seldom see the light of day in histories, are routinely related in this book, enriching the reader’s sense of the true reality of World War II combat.Trade ReviewOne of the best memoirs I have ever read about WWII service. * Military Magazine *...a fine book that I would recommend to anyone who has anything to do with the infantryman’s war. It should be compulsory reading for snout-in-trough politicians who thoughtlessly commit better men than themselves to that very experience. * Tank *...a damn good read...a roller coaster of a story filled with the highs and lows of war. * Raider *Altogether, this is a fascinating insight into a rifleman’s everyday life during the later stages of the War in Europe. * Classic Military Vehicle *

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Book SynopsisOn July 3rd, 1866, a Prussian army overwhelmed and defeated an Austrian army near the fortress city of Königgrätz in a bloody battle that lasted all day. The foremost power in Germany and central Europe had been reduced to a second rate player. The event caused alarm in the rest of the Western world. How was a country like Prussia able to upset the balance of power in Europe, when only sixteen years earlier Austria’s treaty of Olmützit had put it in its place? Its performance as an Austrian ally had been less than stellar in the 2nd Schleswig War of 1864. Yet within five years a Prussian-led army would humble France and a Prussian King would be crowned Emperor of a united Germany. The history of the world would be changed forever.The story of this army is the subject of The Armies of Bismarck’s Wars, a new book by acclaimed military author and artist, Bruce Bassett-Powell. He chronicles its growth from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the reforms of the 1860s, as well as giving a full account of the wars against Denmark and Austria, showing how the confluence of the lives of Kaiser Wilhelm I, Helmuth von Molkte and Otto von Bismarck provided the ingredients that created such an irresistible force.This lavishly illustrated book describes the history and battles of the Prussian army, as well as lesser known details concerning its rise to prominence. The growth and influence of the General Staff is also examined, along with the recruitment and training of officers and men. The author fully describes the organisation of Prussia’s army and its fledgling navy, as well as the weapons with which they fought, in particular giving a detailed account of their dress and accoutrements, accompanied by 24 full-page colour illustrations of over 70 uniforms.

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Book SynopsisColonel de l’armée française en retraite, Paul Malmassari avait déjà publié, au début des années 1990, aux éditions Heimdal, un ouvrage de référence sur le sujet des trains blindés, en général peu traité. Spécialiste indiscutable en la matière, l’auteur propose cette fois-ci une approche nouvelle, très différente, de l’histoire de ces géants d’acier dépendants des chemins de fer. Des origines à nos jours, les trains blindés de plus de soixante États sont expliqués. Ceux de la Russie, où ils ont joué un rôle important, entre autre dans la guerre civile de 1917- 1922; ceux de l’Allemagne - les Panzerzüge - et de la France durant les deux guerres mondiales, sont aussi décrits. Mais les trains blindés ont une histoire sur les quatre continents, y compris dans des pays dont on ne soupçonnerait pas qu’ils aient pu en être dotés. Le travail colossal, encyclopédique, de plus de 520 pages, fait de cet ouvrage un outil indispensable pour tout lecteur amateur ou néophyte, intéressé ou passionné, par ce domaine militaire très spécifique. Il est richement illustré de photographies, de gravures, de schémas descriptifs. Sa particularité est d’allier une précision technique incontestable à des explications des temps historiques dans lesquels ces «monstres du rail» sont intervenus.

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Book SynopsisThe new format of the book - A4 80 pages archive photos color profiles mate coated paper soft cover bindingTrade ReviewThe big plus of this work are computer generated isometric cutaways and internal views in a very large format which makes it ideal for the researcher and rivet counting model-maker. As these views are in colour, this will make completion of the interior of your model a piece of cake! * Scale Military Modelling International Magazine 05/07/2015 *For anyone fitting the interior to a model of a Hetzer, the detail and colour guidance you can get from this is excellent. * Military Model Scene 12/01/2014 *The crowning glory of this work is in the last pages which give us computer generated isometric cutaways and internal views in a very large format which makes it ideal for the researcher and detail obsessed modeller! Paul Middleton * Scale Military Modeller International 19/01/2015 *

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Book SynopsisThis book continues the story of the T-34-85, in postwar service this time. Information is included about postwar production in the USSR, and licensed versions made in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Poland. A brief summary of the T-34's involvement in conflicts and active service up to 2016 is given.The most important part of the book describes the camouflage and markings of T-34-85s in service around the world. There are more than 40 especially commissioned color profiles, and 150+ B&W and color photos, many not previously published.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles 4-view color profiles, scale plans, and photo details of the single variant of the PZL TS-11 Iskra bis DF. Scale plans in 1/72 and 1/48 scales plus drawings from wartime technical manuals. Also includes photos of the details in B&W and color and 4-view color profiles of the PZL TS-11 Iskra bis DF in Polish Service.

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Book SynopsisThis book contains compilations of the color profiles, scale plans, and photo details of the single variant of the Su-76M Soviet self-propelled gun. Scale plans are in 1/35 scale plus drawings from wartime technical manuals. Also inlcudes photos of the details in b&w.

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Book SynopsisThe Fiat G.55 Centauro was a single-engine single-seat World War II fighter aircraft. 8 Drawing sheets, 8 colour profiles, 106 archival photographs, A4 poster

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